Tribune/Debra Reid Reno peace activist Paula McDonough signals her opposition to the Iraq War on Wednesday. Anti-war rallies around the country marked the fifth anniversary of the American invasion of Iraq.
Tribune/Debra Reid Some motorists signaled back to anti-war protesters in Reno on Wednesday, the fifth anniversary of the American invasion of Iraq.
“The troops don’t want to be there anymore than we do,” Simons said. “We don’t want to continue getting shot at.
“We want the Iraqi people to stand up and take care of their own country,” he continued. “We want our contractors out. We want the Iraqi people to rebuild their own country.”
A handful of Reno and Sparks residents rallied in front of the Bruce R. Thompson Courthouse and Federal Building Wednesday echoing Simons’ call for an end to the war and the safe return of troops. They displayed signs to cars traveling down South Virginia Street, receiving honks and thumbs-up from drivers.
On the fifth anniversary of U.S. occupation in Iraq, Simons, 22, voiced an opinion shared by about 60 percent of Americans. After joining the Navy in 2005 as a fire control technician, Simons served on the USS Memphis and he never came into contact with the ground fighting in Iraq.
“I never signed on to go overseas,” Simons said. “I signed on to take part in global defense, but I never signed on to shoot people. The reason I joined the Navy was so I wouldn’t have to be part of a conflict I didn’t believe in. I believe in serving my country; I just don’t believe in attacking a nation based on false accusations.”
Other participants said the economic and emotional impact of the war has been a downfall for America.
“The occupation in Iraq continues and continues and there’s no end in sight,” said Rita Sloan of Reno. “It’s a huge drain on human resources, not to mention the money. The astounding figures are just too hard to fathom.”
Since 2003, nearly 4,000 American troops have died and more than 30,000 have been injured. Estimated expenditures exceed $6 billion, although Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz has suggested the war has cost a staggering $3 trillion in his recent book, “The $3 Trillion War.”
John Hadder of Reno said the pressure is on U.S. representatives’ shoulders to bring the war to a swift conclusion.
“From what I’ve read, it appears as though anything we do is going to have some kind of violent outcome,” Hadder said. “The question is, which is the least of those?
“We think the best way to have a resolution is to have the people in the (Iraqi) region engaged around the government. This (U.S.) administration has refused to (work on a diplomatic side), so I don’t think we’ll be a credible presence. We think the troops should come out sooner than later.”
Sharing the pessimism many Americans have expressed about how to end the war, Hadder said the economic impact has taken too big a toll on the lives of not only the soldiers, but their families as well.
“It could turn out to be another 10-year, Vietnam-type of war, continuing on if we don’t make a clear decision to move our troops and to work with the people in that region and help to rebuild that country,” Hadder said.
Several people who participated in the rally, including Sloan and Hadder, met with representatives from Sens. Reid and Ensign’s offices early Wednesday to appeal for a resolution to remand American occupation in Iraq.
“Sen. Reid has at least got a bill in Congress to send to the Senate to try to end the war and our occupation, so we’re at least happy about that,” Hadder said. “We know he is pretty much on board, but even he needs to keep on board until it’s ended.”
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